Wardens, in line with all other users of computer and network facilities, should be familiar with the Rhodes Acceptable Use Policy.
It would appear that at least some wardens believe that they are automatically entitled to a network connection supplied by the University. Some further believe that they can have many connections without incurring additional charges for installation and use.
The IT Division is partially sympathetic towards this view, and attempts have been made to accomodate it. However, with the rapid growth of ResNet, there are and have been anomalies as to how wardens have been given network connections within the ResNet environment.
As well as anomalies of implementation, there have been misunderstandings. Some of these misunderstandings may have been aggravated by the IT Divisions naivety about the way the residence system itself operates.
These misunderstandings and anomalies are causing increasing concern, and it is the purpose of this document to attempt to rectify them by providing a consistent explanation of why things are the way they are.
It is a simple exercise to produce a model of the procedures and associated costs, but it is probably more useful to sketch the historical background to the current situation of wardens with regard to Resnet. Those readers more interested in implementation should skip to the final section of this document.
In fact, networked wardens' connections do not form part of the Resnet project, but are a useful adjunct to it.
ResNet has been established to provide students with access to the Rhodes network. To give an idea as to its scale, it contains as many network connection points as the rest of the University, including the public PC laboratories and all academic departments and administrative divisions.
The logistics and the huge costs of installing ResNet and how it has been funded go some way towards explaining why wardens are experiencing difficulties in the context of Resnet.
A detailed explanation of ResNet history is available.
The sole source of funding for the installation of ResNet comes from income generated by resale of the service to students. It has been a shoe-string operation, where the rands and cents have literally been counted in order to move on to the next phase. The service is still far from being profitable, as the IT Division currently must pay back nearly R1 million in bridging finance to the University.
As is pointed out in the history of ResNet, network connections for Hall Wardens have already been provided and paid for by the University. The wardens of Graham House, Allan Gray (coincidentally a Hall Warden), the GRPGV, and Ruth First House & Centenary House were connected either as part of the fully paid pilot project or else the new policy for providing complete pre-installed networking as part of the cost of construction.
All other points that have been installed in ResNet use money scraped together after considerable effort by the IT Division, either by directly charging students, or wardens, or by using borrowed money.
It is here that the anomalies and misconceptions arise.
Some wardens have a network connection point. Some wardens have multiple network connections. Some wardens have paid personally for their connection, others have had theirs paid for out of Hall funds, some don't have a connection at all. Some wardens don't live within the residence of which they are warden, some live in annexes which do not yet have connections, and some wardens have physical connections but are not as yet able to use them.
Many wardens are confused, even annoyed, at the manner in which Resnet appears to be implemented in respect of themselves.
There are three cases to consider. Firstly, if there is an existing network point in the wardens premises:
Secondly, if there is no existing network point in the wardens premises, or an additional network point is required:
Thirdly, if there are multiple network connections within the wardens premises:
Additionally: